Over the years, we've occasionally run an "Ask OSNews" feature, wherein a reader asks us a question and we answer it publicly. Lately I've really been enjoying Slate's Dear Prudence advice column and the ever-interesting Straight Dope, and I thought we should see if we can get more OSNews readers to submit questions, and turn Ask OSNews into a more-regular thing. If your question falls outside of our domain expertise, we'll try to track down an expert to help out. And of course, our responses will always be supplemented by further advice from OSNews readers in the comments. Questions are welcome on any topic ranging from OSes and computing to science and geek culture. Contact us with your questions. (Please include "Ask OSNews" in the subject). Today's question is from a young student in Hungary who's seduced by the faraway siren song of Apple's marketing and wonders, "should I switch?"

Of course, this 'discussion' is going to be a big flame fest, but what the hell, I bite:

No, you should not buy a Mac. I did a year ago, to see what the fuzz was about (a Mini G4), I rarely use it now.

Where to start?
- Hopelessly overpriced (ALL Apple's). Both software and hardware.
- Incredibly bad designs. I hear you huffing and puffing but let me explain. All Mac's look gorgeous, but almost every piece of hardware has major flaws. Apple takes form over function, something you should not do for a something you use every day. The one button mouse: hopeless, and the 2 button white mouse? even more hopeless. The keyboards? I have the wireless Bluetooth white keyboard, they keys are so heavy to hit, it is painful. The keyboard of the older Mac G3 is too small and also has a horrible feel. Non standard display port? why? Using the Apple key for cut and & paste instead of the more ergonomical Ctrl key on the outside? No cut & paste in an iPhone? Why, why?
- Apple is one of the most irritating companies on the planet, with little to no respect for its customers or fanboi's. It ranges from sueing fans for hosting websites about Apple, tie-ins with iTunes, DRM, using open source but not giving (much) back, mobile phones that need ridiculous expensive contracts with single vendors, ad hoc decisions who is allowed to develop for the iPhone and sueing people for using Apple software in a way that the company does not want (Psystar)
-the cult of Mac, for blindy following the leader with no criticism - after all, it's an APPLE!
-Mac OS is at best mediocre, too many flaws to mention, ranging from a bad finder, ergonomy, lack of customisation, games, but it looks pretty!

My freind recently bought a mac and it is driven him nuts with the little things. I thought he was crazy untell I gave it a try, the more I used the more the it was aparent.

While there were things that were cool I found my self saying, hay thats in the gnome desktop also. He also bunrt me a few files and when i got home to check them out Ubuntu would not read them unless I was in root. (Not shure if that is a normal thing for linux type os's as im makeing the switch from windows) But hay they do look nice, but then so does a HP with Ubunut Studio 9.04.

I find it harder to reach ctrl when it is on the lower left corner of the keyboard. I always bind ctrl to caps lock on all the OSes that I use. Trivial to do so. If you don't like the defaults, why put up with them?

I would NOT buy a Mac.
* It's overpriced eye candy. It's a scam where you're paying for the name.
* It does not have the amount of software that Windows has, especially for businesses and small offices like Windows does. For instance, an M.D. friend that is a Mac fanatic uses -- or tries to -- in his solo practice. His loyalty to Mac is pathetic to watch after seeing all the frustration he goes through to try to get software he needs if it exists. Most of the time it doesn't but there is always a Windows version. It's like he's in a cult.

* Apple sees the writing on the wall. The current Mac Gui/OS isn't better than Windows Vista/7. That's why they are in the telephone business.

If it weren't for the fact that I have to develop software for Mac users, I would have sticked to my Linux laptop. I agree that Macs are hopelessly overpriced. They introduce vendor lock-in. For example if I want to be able to plug my Mac into a foreign electric outlet then I have to by an Apple travel adapter kit. I cannot just use a normal adapter that works with every other electric device and is 60% cheaper.

Oh why oh why do I feed the trolls (notice he is a one-post wonder - post something then run?)

Where to start?

How about not lying.

- Hopelessly overpriced (ALL Apple's). Both software and hardware.

You pay to get Mac OS X; I'd buy a PC if Windows wasn't such a horribly disfuctional operating system whose UI design is so counter intuitive you wonder whether it was created that way simply to 'stick it to the man' (the man being the Xerox UI design and subsequent variations up on that like Atari, Amiga and Apple with the single menu at the top of the screen etc).

Don't get me started on Linux where one plays, "pray that your computer works properly with it". Hardware feedback? useless; I read pages about a given printer supported by Linux only to find that the people offering feedback HAD NEVER USED IT.

- Incredibly bad designs. I hear you huffing and puffing but let me explain. All Mac's look gorgeous, but almost every piece of hardware has major flaws. Apple takes form over function, something you should not do for a something you use every day. The one button mouse: hopeless, and the 2 button white mouse?

I have a Mighty mouse right now, it has 4 buttons; two side, two top and the 'nipple' ontop is also a button. What more do you need? Or are you one of those individuals with a button fetish whose modus operandi amounts to "the more buttons the better". Talk about boys and their toys!

even more hopeless. The keyboards? I have the wireless Bluetooth white keyboard, they keys are so heavy to hit, it is painful. The keyboard of the older Mac G3 is too small and also has a horrible feel.

What the hell are you going on about? I have a keyboard right now and it uses the same chicklet keyboard as my Macbook - oh, thats right, you're complaining about stuff from 2 years ago! yes, its alot easier to complain based on outdated information than debate based on 2009 specifications.

Non standard display port? why?

Where? give specifics - you mean the new unibody MacBooks?

Using the Apple key for cut and & paste instead of the more ergonomical Ctrl key on the outside?

And thus the conclusion that you're a troll. I might as well say Windows sucks because insists on using the pointless Startmenu to load applications.

No cut & paste in an iPhone? Why, why?

iPhone OS isn't a multitasking OS hence they probably saw little demand for it in 1.x and 2.x (I can't speak for 3.x since I don't have access to it).

- Apple is one of the most irritating companies on the planet, with little to no respect for its customers or fanboi's. It ranges from sueing fans for hosting websites about Apple, tie-ins with iTunes, DRM, using open source but not giving (much) back, mobile phones that need ridiculous expensive contracts with single vendors, ad hoc decisions who is allowed to develop for the iPhone and sueing people for using Apple software in a way that the company does not want (Psystar)
-the cult of Mac, for blindy following the leader with no criticism - after all, it's an APPLE!
-Mac OS is at best mediocre, too many flaws to mention, ranging from a bad finder, ergonomy, lack of customisation, games, but it looks pretty!

Steer clear!

And thus you further re-enforce what I stated; you're a troll. If you weren't you wouldn't have done a post and run.

No, I'm not going to moderate you down because life is punishing you enough already.

Oh why oh why do I feed the trolls (notice he is a one-post wonder - post something then run?)

Err, unlike others I try not to repeat myself with the same arguments, I thought my post speaks for itself? And more importantly, why is someone a troll if he posts only once?

How about not lying.

Ad hominem attack, I only stated my opinion.

You pay to get Mac OS X; I'd buy a PC if Windows wasn't such a horribly disfuctional operating system whose UI design is so counter intuitive you wonder whether it was created that way simply to 'stick it to the man' (the man being the Xerox UI design and subsequent variations up on that like Atari, Amiga and Apple with the single menu at the top of the screen etc).

Don't get me started on Linux where one plays, "pray that your computer works properly with it". Hardware feedback? useless; I read pages about a given printer supported by Linux only to find that the people offering feedback HAD NEVER USED IT.

You are avoiding the point here: Apple's are expensive.
Agreed, Windows is not very useful out-of-the-box but there is so much free software out there that it doesn't matter that much. If you buy Windows, you get 5 years worth of service packs (XP), Apple makes you pay every 18 months if you want to upgrade.

I have a Mighty mouse right now, it has 4 buttons; two side, two top and the 'nipple' ontop is also a button. What more do you need? Or are you one of those individuals with a button fetish whose modus operandi amounts to "the more buttons the better". Talk about boys and their toys!

What the hell are you going on about? I have a keyboard right now and it uses the same chicklet keyboard as my Macbook - oh, thats right, you're complaining about stuff from 2 years ago! yes, its alot easier to complain based on outdated information than debate based on 2009 specifications.

You are avoiding again, yes you can name some hardware that works well, all I say is: my experience with some of that expensive Apple hardware is horrendeous.
Other people have some opinions about Apple's Might mouse too. Here is a link. The whole thread is interesing. http://hardware.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1216799&cid=27769445

Using the Apple key for cut and & paste instead of the more ergonomical Ctrl key on the outside?

And thus the conclusion that you're a troll. I might as well say Windows sucks because insists on using the pointless Startmenu to load applications.

It's easier to reach the CTRL key with your little finger and your index finger than to reach the Apple key with your thumb and reach over with your index finger, though I guess it is partially what one is used to.

...
And thus you further re-enforce what I stated; you're a troll. If you weren't you wouldn't have done a post and run.

I am here, my post was at 1am, I need to sleep as well!
You didn't address the points that Apple is a company that treats its customers with little respect.

No, I'm not going to moderate you down because life is punishing you enough already.

I thought voting down on OSNews is only used if something is factually not right or obnoxious, I was only stating my opinion..

Why do macs use the apple keys for cut+paste instead of CTRL? For consistency, if you use ctrl+c for cut, what happens in a shell based app where ctrl+c means kill (and this behaviour predates any gui)?
Best case you have an inconsistent method of cutting+pasting when in terminal based apps, worst case you accidentally kill your terminal based apps.